WATCH | Footage emerges that may shed light on Bok Mbonambi’s ‘racial slur’

24 October 2023 - 11:34 By SINESIPHO SCHRIEBER
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Bongi Mbonambi during a Springbok training session ahead of Saturday's World Cup final against New Zealand at Stade des Fauvettes in Domont, Paris on Monday.
Bongi Mbonambi during a Springbok training session ahead of Saturday's World Cup final against New Zealand at Stade des Fauvettes in Domont, Paris on Monday.
Image: David Rogers/Getty Images

New video footage may shed light on what Springbok hooker Bongani Mbonambi uttered during the Springboks' at-times heated Rugby World Cup semifinal win over England on Saturday night.

England flanker Tom Curry accused Mbonambi of uttering a racial slur towards him as the teams battled it out at Stade de France in Paris in a match the Boks won 16-15 to reach Saturday's final against the All Blacks. 

In audio clips on social media from referee Ben O'Keeffe's microphone, Curry can be heard alleging Mbonambi called him a “white c**t”.

A short video clip has since been circulated on social media showing England putting pressure on the Boks' defence in an attempt to go for a try and Mbonambi can be faintly heard shouting in Afrikaans what appears to sound like “wyd kant” or “wit kant”, which means wide or white side. Given the ball came out of a ruck on England's (the team in white) side, it would make sense for Mbonambi to shout at that moment “wit kant”.

Moments after this, Curry went to O'Keeffe to complain about Mbonambi.

“Sir, Sir, if their hooker calls me a white c**t, what do I do?” he asked. O’Keeffe responded by saying: “Nothing please. I’ll be on it.”

The video clip is topping charts on social media as the Springboks await for the verdict on World Rugby's investigation into the matter.

Many South Africans believe the allegation against Mbonambi is a case of something he said in Afrikaans being lost in translation. The Boks speak in Afrikaans during games so the opponents cannot understand what they are saying.


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